LC 232 
.T4 H6 
Copy 1 



Texas Federation of Women's Clubs 



HANDBOOK 



ON 



Social Centers 



Condensed from Articles by 

CHARLES W. HOLMAN in Farm and Ranch 

for 1910-1911 



Education Committee: 

Maggie W. Barry, Chairman 

M. Eleanor Breckenridge 

Noethera Barton 



PRESS OF 

FARM AND RANCH-HOLLAND'S MAGAZINE 

1911 



'V 



^ 






The Education Committee is indebted 
to Colonel Frank P. Holland, president of 
the Texas Farm and Ranch Publishing 
Company, for this handbook on Social 
Centers. 

We especially commend to the con- 
sideration of the club women of the South- 
west the practical suggestions to be found 
in the latter half of the discussion, as to the 
organization of Social Centers in rural com- 
munities and in small towns. 

The schoolhouse has been shown to be 
the logical social center. Equipped with 
library and gymnasium, and surrounded by 
garden and playgrounds, it will be an un- 
failing stimulus to social activity in any 
community. 

Maggie W. Barry, 

Chairman. 



COPYRIGHT, 1911 

By the Texas Farm and Ranch Pub. Co., 

Dallas, Texas 



CO.A283053 



Social Centers 



WHAT a family misses when it scatters, leaving the home bolted 
and shuttered, communities are wasting through disuse of their 
public centers of social life. 

Just as the vacant house means useless walls and furnishings; 
just as the closed factory means unproductive capital; so an idle pub- 
lic building means wasted thousands of common tax money. 

But more! When the family scatters, those precious abilities 
which association would have called forth, lie dormant. These work- 
men turned from the factory gate can no longer supplement each other 
in skilful production. 

The unfocused community can never feel the enthusiasm of team 
spirit, the economy of cooperative effort, the richness of peculiar 
talent, possibilities for which exist among its isolated individuals. 

Of all public buildings, the school house is the logical place for 
community meeting; and the movement to open this little-used public 
building outside of school hours for common benefit, already has much 
headway in many Southwestern communities. 

To keep public equipment in public usefulness, to realize full social 
value from social property, to make the school house a community 
home and "sitting room," to add each community member's peculiar 
worth to the great family service — this may fairly be considered the 
Social Center movement. 

This latest and perhaps longest step towards solving the problems 
of society — this "wider use of the school plant,'' (as comparison to 
the factory has molded the phrase), is of interest to everyone exactly 
in proportion as he or she would better local life and attract attention 
to that community as "a good place to live." 

For clarity, this brief discussion is arranged under four chief 
heads: 

1. What Happened in Rochester. 

2. How the Social Center Idea Came to the Southwest. 

3. Practical "Hows" for the Small Civic Center. 

4. Focusing the Rural Community. 



Social Centers 



What Happened in Rochester 

FOR a number of years the various organizations for civic advance- 
ment in the city of Rochester had discussed the idea of getting 

their money's worth out of the public school buildings. It was 
felt that there was a social waste to keep closed, except for school 
hours, the very buildings which belonged to all the people. 

'These same organizations felt that in Rochester there was needed 
a spirit of friendly cooperation and a consciousness of joint interests. 
People were getting divided into cliques and classes and too segre- 
gated in sympathies. This situation was complicated by gangs of 
young fellows who congregated for mischief and gave citizens and 
police much trouble. 

After some time it dawned upon certain educational leaders 
that the sluggish condition among the people came from their not 
knowing each other, and that the gangs of bad boys and young 
"toughs" had no place where they could gather to indulge in whole- 
some play and be led to study. 

This condition was felt and appreciated by 50,000 progressive men 
and women and the demand for a something to meet conditions 
seemed to come spontaneously. Consequently, when in February, 1907, 
a committee, known as the school extension committee, representing 
the Central Trades and Labor council, the Children's Playground 
league, the College Women's club, the Daughters of the American 
Revolution, the Humane society, the Labor lyceum, the Women's Local 
council, the Officers' Association of Women's clubs, the Political 
Equality club, the Social Settlement association, and the Women's 
Educational and Industrial union, about one-fourth of the population 
of Rochester was represented. 

The delegates were authorized to act for the organizations. The 
Rochester Social Center booklet says of this meeting: 

Spontaneity the Keynote. 

''It is significant of the spirit of the Social Centers that their 
beginning was not the result of the activity of any one person or 
group of persons. The Civic Extension committee, which did not 
go jout of existence with the accomplishment of its prime object, but 
with the addition of delegates from several other organizations, has 
continued as the present Civic Betterment committee, was perhaps 
one of the most widely representative organizations ever yet brought 
together in Rochester for any public movement." 

Here we have the keynote to the movement which caused the 
public school buildings of Rochester to be thrown open for the 
use of the people. The demand was "spontaneous." The committee 
did some very serious work and reported that, "It is the sentiment of 
this organization that the school board should have charge of the 
school extension work inclusive of the adjoining playgrounds." 

Rochester's city council appropriated $5000 for the beginning of 
the work. In early summer a supervisor was chosen. He visited 
Chicago and New York City and made investigations of the civic 
movement and social center work in other cities. A plan was then 
formulated to meet the needs of Rochester, to develop that spirit of 
spontaneity and community cooperation. Here again we have re- 



Social Centers 



course to the Rochester booklet: 

"The Social Center was not to take the place of any existing 
institution; it was not to be a charitable medium for the service par- 
ticularly of the poor; it was not to be a new kind of evening school; 
it was not to take the place of any church or other institution of moral 
uplift; it was not to serve simply as an 'Improvement association,' by 
which the people in one community should seek only the welfare of 
their district; it was not to be a 'Civic reform' organization, pledged 
to some change in city or state or national administration. 

"It was just to be the restoration to its true place in social life 
of that most American of all institutions, the Public School Center, 
in order that through this 
extended use of the school 
building, might be developed, 
in the midst of our complex 
life, the community interest, 
the neighborly spirit, the de- 
mocracy that we knew before 
we came to the city." 

As to the purposes of the 
Social Center, for succinct 
statement, we again resort 
to the booklet: 

"It was decided at that 
meeting that the Social Cen- 
ter should provide opportuni- 
ties for physical activity by 
means of gymnasium equip- 
ment and direction, baths, 
etc.; opportunities for re- 
creation, in addition to those 
which the gymnasium would 
offer, by the provision of va- 
rious innocent table games; 
opportunities for intellectaal 
activity by the provision of a 




IN THE PINEY WOODS OF EAST TEXAS 
Here a country school in the Elberta peach 
belt, by the aid of the school children, rural 
phones, etc., aroused a fine community spirit 
and secured, a library as a Social Center 
Nucleus. 

library and reading room and by the 
giving of a lecture or entertainment at least once each week, while 
the essentially democratic, intimately social service of the centers 
should be gained through the opportunities offered for the organization 
of self-government clubs of men, of women, of boys and of girls. 

'*The use of the Social Centers for free, untrammeled discussion 
of public questions was carefully considered and the fact was cited 
that the School Extension committee had already gone over this mat- 
ter and had passed a motion that 'the committee should insist upon 
the free use of the school buildings chosen, neighborhood meetings, 
even politics and religion not being tabooed.' " 

With this idea the work began. Funds were inadequate to try 
the experiment with more than one school building. The building 
selected was located in a representative section of the city — where 
people were not very poor nor very rich, but composed of both wage 
workers and employers. 

The first Social Center was opened Friday evening, November 1, 
1907, with an attendance of 314. There was music by the volunteer 
orchestra, gotten together by the assistant director of the center, and 



Social Centers 



there were addresses by the president of the school board and others. 
To give details of what was accomplished that first year would 

require too much space. Briefly, boys' and girls' clubs were organized, 

which drew from the streets 
the "gangs" that had trou- 
bled the citizens. The "gang" 
became a debating club. In- 
terest in civic responsibility 
became active among the 
young people. Men's clubs 
were formed and held meet- 
ings regularly throughout the 
school year. Women's clubs 
formed and did much active 
work. 

Gymnasium classes 
among all ages were popular 
and well attended, while the 
library and reading rooms 
w^ere filled every evening. 
The open meeting nights, 
when lectures were given, 
were well attended and, dur- 
ing the seven months that 
the Social Center was run, 
there was a total attendance 
of 25,022. The highest aver- 
the lowest was 87. 




SOME NORTH TEXAS BOYS AND GIRLS 
WHO WON AND OWN A SCHOOL 
LIBRARY 
A contest between two school grades se- 
cured this library in twenty -four hours, drew 
this small civic community into closer touch 
and set the boys and girls to reading because 
the books are their own achievement. 

age nightly attendance was 162, while 



Social Centers "Made Good." 

In one year the Social Center "made good." The city council 
appropriated $10,391 for continuance and extension of the work; for 
1909 the appropriation was over $20,000. 

During the second year partial Social Centers were established, 
but, not counting them, at the three Social Centers the total attend- 
ance from November 1, to April 17, was 55,782. 

Since the movement began in Rochester, a greater awakening 
has taken place in civic interest than had been dreamt possible. The 
people are closer to their officers, and there is open and public ex- 
pression of approval or condemnation of the acts of the representatives 
of the people. The people of the city are getting acquainted with 
each other, and race prejudices are disappearing, At the Social Cen- 
ter everybody is just as good as anybody, and there are no class lines. 
The Social Center is remarkable for the reason that it makes every- 
body feel that there is a place where all the people are at home. The 
directors do not "guide" the people; they work with them. 

Spontaneity is the principle that is causing this marked change in 
the people of Rochester. Governor Hughes of New York state said 
concerning it: "I am more interested in what you are doing, and 
what it stands for, than in anything else in the world. * * . * You 
-are buttressing the foundations of democracy." 



Social Centers 



How the Social Center Idea Came to the Southwest 

WOMAN'S share in ■ the original Rochester movement is testified 
by the roll call of associations represented in the first school 
extension committee. The history of the Southwestern move- 
ment is not different in this respect. 

The social center idea for the Southwest was first voiced by 
Mrs. Maggie W. Barry, chairman of the education committee of 
the Texas Federation of Women's clubs, who, at the Denison meeting 
of that body, mentioned the good accomplished by the Rochester, 
N. Y., centers, and suggested that the clubs take up the idea in the 
Southwest. This suggestion was adopted, and the 1910 meeting in 
San Antonio devoted an important part of its program to discussing 
the feasibility of the idea. 

Farm and Ranch and Holland's Magazine saw in this suggestion 
a new and catchy name for their old program of "Community Coopera- 
tion/' and adopted it. Through the columns of Farm and Ranch dis- 
cussion has been opened and has aroused considerable attention. 
These journals have pushed the movement by sending a lecturer to 
every teachers' institute that could be made in Texas last fall and 
this winter. The writer had the pleasure of explaining the idea to 
the Oklahoma State Federation of Women's clubs, and having them 
endorse and take up active agitation, also to the Texas club women 
at San Antonio. 

In this way active agitation has made the name "Social Center" 
familiar in several states. It is resulting in prominent educators and 
community leaders readjusting their programs of community organiza- 
tion, and in the trying out of plans of work in some communities. 
The University of Texas has come to recognize the practicability of 
the social center idea, and is rendering invaluable assistance to the 
movement by its organized extension work.. Recognition of this social 
center work was given the Southwest at the November convention 
of the National Municipal league, meeting at Buffalo, N. Y. 

Progress in the Southwest. 

The Southwest sorely needs the social center in country life to 
^blend the spirits of the people in harmony, to satisfy the social in- 
stinct, to stimulate the intellectual life and to inculcate true ideals of 
democratic government. The materials at hand with which to work 
are the women's federated clubs, the mothers' clubs, home and 
school clubs, parents' and teachers' clubs, farmers' institutes, boys' 
corn clubs, the boys' and girls' clubs and the extension movements of 
the state universities and the agricultural and mechanical colleges. 
Invaluable in this connection is the agitation which the agricultural 
press of the Southwest is making. 

The state of Oklahoma is doing a wonderful work in organizing 
its boys and girls and its farmers' institute work. Various 
civic improvement organizations of Texas have taken up the social 
center movement, and in 1910 practically every teachers' institute in 
Texas and every convention devoted time to discussion of the Social 
Center idea. 

So great is the need for organization of country communities 



Social Centers 



that Farm and Ranch, the leading agricultural journal of the South, 
has actively agitated the need through its columns for the last 15 * 
months and devotes all the time of one of its editors to the propa- 
ganda work. This journal has opened its columns to a free and full 
discussion and promulgation of plans; and every issue for the months 
of November, December and January contained communications from 
leading educators and from practical farmers. It has also made it 
possible for every community in the Southwest to obtain a library, 
and this opportunity to obtain well chosen books at a great economy 
has set hundreds of communities upon the Social Center road. 

Opinion is unanimous that the school house is the natural place 
for trTe meeting of all the people, and agitation is active also to see 
that new school buildings shall te located with a view to more con- 
venient access by both pupils and parents. 



Practical "Hows" for the Small Civic Center 



IN the small farming town, where almost everyone is directly in- 
terested in agriculture, the social center will nourish; because it 

completes a vital deficiency. Such a town has a serious question 
to answer in "What shall we do for cur boys and girls, to keep them 
off the streets, and actively engaged in something that will be for 
their own good, yet attract them?" 

Two serious drawbacks to small town life are found in the atti- 
tude of the commercial club, and the women's clubs. The one de- 
sires to exploit its town to bring in industries; the other is too liable 
to waste energy and money on idealistic ventures of no practical 
benefit. 

Let us take an average town — any small town almost anywhere — 
and analyze its capacities in this line. 

The town is too small for good theatricals except, now and then, 
when a company having an unfilled engagement plays there. There 
are four churches, but none of them holds services every Sunday, so 
it occasionally happens there is a Sunday when not a church in the 
place has preaching. The women's clubs are devoted to a desultory 
study of the fine arts, not following a predetermined program arranged 
by expert program makers. At times a club gets a burst of civic en- 
thusiasm and plants shade trees or beautifies the cemetery or installs 
a drinking fountain. Another may endeavor to stimulate the intellec- 
tual by bringing a few lyceum attractions during the winter months. 
Not being experienced, however, in the selection of proper talent, the 
leaders are often forced to pay excessive guaranties and find their 
enterprise a losing venture. There is no public library, not even a 
school library, the equipment of the school beingi usually limited to 
elementary laboratory apparatus. 

The town may or may not have a commercial club "trying to get 
factories/' spending money advertising for industrial enterprises 
rather than in developing the farming interest around the town by 
building better roads, improving streets, etc. To complicate matters, 
the two banks are not on good terms. Each is trying to corner all 
the patrons and to dominate the industrial future of the place. This 



Social Centers 



rivalry, in time, leads to imbitterment and a division among the peo- 
ple. Then along come the stern elders and put a stop to the amuse- 
ments of the young people. 

Why illustrate further? It is easy to see why the young men and 
women are leaving these communities and they are drying up. Lack 
of spontaneity is apparent. Need for a social magnet is felt. 

Focusing the Social Activities. 

It will be necessary for the commercial club to enroll the farm- 
ers of the open country; and for the towns women to do the same 




OXFORD SCHOOL NEAR VAN ALSTYNE, TEXAS. 

Here public-spirited countrymen placpd a library for school and community use 

From the beginning of the library effort, public spirit in this 

neighborhood has been quickened. 



with their country sisters. If this is not always possible or practica- 
ble, the women's clubs and the commercial club can find means to 
draw the farm population to the town meetings. 

Schoolboys can be enrolled in athletic classes by the volunteer 
work of young graduates, who went in for athletics at college. Young 
women, returned from college — to fold their hands at home and idle 
until they are married off — can find useful employment under this 



10 Social Centers 



plan, D3' becoming auxiliaries to the teaching force, and aids at the 
open meetings. 

What might, we hope to result if these organizations, instead of 
working independently, each almost unconscious of the work of the 
others, should be united, articulated and directed in their efforts 
toward some central aim, held together by some common social 
magnet.? 

(Organizations in this town — rather these towns — might get to- 
gether and decide upon some plan of interesting the whole population. 
Public spirited citizens could take upon themselves the work of com- 
mitteemen and make provision for entertaining the people. In the 
spare room of the building a school library might be installed, and 
the people should have access to it. A reading room would be easy to 
provide and maintain. A small tax levy, or a popular subscription, 
could provide for equipment of gymnasium' and payment for such 
services as would be necessary. Boys' clubs, girls' clubs, men's clubs 
and women's clubs could be organized to meet on certain nights or 
in afternoons. Domestic science meetings, sewing circles, civic im- 
provement clubs, debating societies, amateur bands and orchestras 
could be organized. 

On certain evenings, when the people meet for general entertain- 
ment, there might be addresses by the mayor, councilmen, county 
officials, the health officer, some physician or some other citizen in- 
terested in and an authority on some phase of municipal community 
progress. On these evenings the people from the rural districts could 
be invited and a simple entertainment in the way of refreshments 
served. At these gatherings the right of free speech should be con- 
sidered sacred. It must, be everybody's meeting. A chairman for 
each meeting should be elected every evening. The reason for com- 
ing together should be the common good, and such a reason will soon 
generate warmer community spirit and higher ideals of civic right- 
eousness. 

It might be that the library and reading room will draw many 
who otherwise would never come out to public meetings. It is certain 
that the recreational features would have the effect of taking the boys 
off the streets — a condition almost deplorable in many small towns. 



Focusing the Rural Community 

SUMMARIZED, we find the present-day environment of the farmers 
in the Southwest contain these serious handicaps: 

1. The majority of the Southwest's rural population supports 
by taxation a double system of free schools — white and negro — and this 
burden is borne, in major part, by the whites. There are too many 
one-teacher schools. School houses are unfortunately located, poorly 
equipped and supported. Teachers are underpaid and overworked. 
Local tradition and prejudice is a serious handicap to the teacher who 
would make radical changes in study courses to fit the needs of her 
pupils or in accordance with advancing pedagogical beliefs. 

2. Nearly every rural community attempts to support more 
churches than can be sustained by such small congregations. Pastors 
are too often either young men who regard country charges as step- 



Social Centers 11 



ping stones to city pastorates, or old men whose ministerial days are in 
decline. 

3. Farmers' organizations lack virility. Their membership is 
limited to a very small percentage of actual farmers. 

4. In many sections renters are supplanting the sturdier types 
of land owners. These renters are, necessarily, of a lower economic 
order and cannot give ready response to popular movements., or enable 
their children to obtain the essentials of general and technical train- 
ing so necessary to the success of the new generation of farmers. 

5. Farm families are geographically isolated, and bad wagon 
roads make communication at times difficult. There is a general negli- 
gence about sanitation for prevention of diseases and purity of water 
supply. Beautifying home and school grounds and public roads is not 
given proper attention. And there is often a plentiful lack of good 
literature within the home. 

Social Apathy a Logical Result. 

Our imperfect school system has not yet eliminated from the 
Southwest the illiterate element; neither has it met the cultural or 
technical needs of country boys and girls. Instruction in the small 
country school is often a mere matter of memory lessons. Bad loca- 
tions of school buildings have made it hard for farmers to get to- 
gether in the community school houses. 

Small memberships of denominational congregations result in 
sickly individual churches with slight influence. Strict adherence to 
dogmatic, denominational interpretations of the scriptures, at times, 
reaches an intensity of feeling and height of pitch that divides com- 
munities into imbittered sects, pulling cross-wise with each other, in- 
stead of uniting forces on the common ground of social service for the 
spiritual good. 

In the matter of his organizations, the farmer's weakness en- 
genders in him a failure to appreciate the mutual dependence of all 
who work on the farm; and renders the one most important class in 
America almost impotent and at the mercy of those who set the 
prices on the world's goods. This means economic debility. 

As renters increase in a community, enthusiasm is likely to de- 
cline; and initiative in personal or public endeavor "loses the name 
of action." 

Isolation, accentuated by bad roads, and so forth, has these good 
and bad results: Farmers tend to become both extremely radical 
and absurdly conservative, the two predispositions being often para- 
doxically present in the same character. The farmer's point of view 
tends to become limited to his vocation and the world represented by 
his neighborhood. But this very isolation develops a rugged indepen- 
dence, a sturdy self-reliance and a type of men and women who 
think deeply and weigh well all questions within their range. 

Cooperative Democracy is Needed. 

Such causes and results as recited above permit us to draw 
together under one general head the social needs of the Southwest: 

We must evolve a cooperative democracy with the social supplant- 
ing the individualistic spirit. 

To do this, we will generate enthusiasm and develop leadership 
in the country. Our progress will be the advance of a class alive to» 



12 Social Centers 



its needs and consciously doing the things necessary for its evolution. 
We require a vital stimulant and dependable leaders. 

We have referred to the intense individualistic spirit of the 
countryman. Under pioneer conditions that spirit was natural and 
normal. The tiller of the soil was the nearest approach to the man 
who was sufficient unto himself. But with settlement in an advanced 
stage, with small farms, with practically all available lands yielding 
to the husbandman, with agriculture manifesting a constant tendency 
toward specialized effort, it becomes more and more necessary for 
the farmer to lay aside his early attitude and work in harness for the 
.social good. 

Such a spirit as was to be praised in 1800 is abnormal and out of 
harmony in 1910. Yet, is it hard to find countrymen, working with 
the tools of modern civilization, living in the thoughts of a time that 
lias gone? Can these men readjust their relation to organized society; 
oan they interpret this readjustment to mean that the highest form 
of individualism finds its completest expression in social service? 

Conscious Forces at Work. 

Forces are consciously at work transforming the present agricul- 
tural class. As an indication, in Texas, a campaign is being prosecuted 
for creation of a special county board of education, to relieve the 
already over-burdened commissioners' court; and for establish- 
ment of country high schools, in order to give boys and girls higher 
educational advantages right at their own doors. 

Another educational effort is to change the Texas law so that we 
may keep and draw into the office of county superintendent truly 
high class talent for upbuilding the county school system. Texas law 
limits salary and office expenses of county superintendents to so low 
a figure that, when a good man's real usefulness to his county begins 
to be felt, his energy -and enterprise attract flattering offers from some 
branch of city education or some higher educational institution, and 
Tie leaves the work he has begun for one offering greater remunera- 
tion. At present time there is need of more strong men in county 
superintendents' offices than in any other division of the Texas school 
system. 

In religious circles the inability of the rural church to fulfill its 
obvious mission — to cope with the needs of the people from its purely 
Teligious position — is the subject of devoted discussion. Authorities 
are coming to realize that young men must be specially fitted for 
rural charges. 

These young men should be organizers and leaders and must 
enter the work to remain for life in the rural districts. They should 
be leaders in ways other than the part of spiritual advisors. They 
should preach the cardinal truths of the Christian religion, avoid ex- 
pressions as to creeds, and work to arouse an ethical sentiment for 
social service. 

While farmers' organizations are not always of long life, and 
usually have quickly alternating high and low tides of strength and 
influence, the never-ceasing attempts of the class at cooperative ef- 
forts foretell a day when some giant movement will sweep the coun- 
try and enable the farmer to voice a determining word concerning 
the prices of farm commodities. Another important point to notice 
is, that almost every strong farmers' organization admits women to 



Social Centers 13 



full membership privileges, and entitles them to hold office. In this 
field much remains to be done. A rich harvest awaits the workers. 

We are modifying isolation by permanent wagon roads, rural 
telephones, free mail delivery, trolley cars and automobiles. We will 
lessen its evils by the monorail and aeroplane. Active agencies for 
diminishing the effect of distance have already accomplished marvels. 
The next ten years shall witness miracles. But, for the farm class 
to fulfill its mission, country people must federate the social forces 
already at work. 

Material For Use. 

The initial requirement will be leadership. It will take a man 
and a woman. Two are enough to start work. Their qualities of 
leadership must consist of broad ideals, untiring energy, patience, 




A FORE-PLANNED SOCIAL CENTER 

Built by an extensive land owner, as a definite center of social life in his com- 
munity and among his tenants. Since the opening celebration in December, 1910, 
this chapel is mating a record for service as a church, school and club house many 
hours every week. A library has been installed and at the regular Friday night 
meetings, an average of one hundred-fifty neighbors listen to and participate in 
regular programs. 

tact, limiting their guidance only to the point where people think for 
themselves, yet ever keeping the people alive to this point. It will 
require constant endeavor, and they must be "always on the job." 
The two can work wonders with any isolated community. 

If the community is split by sect, party or family disputes, the 
task will be harder than if mere apathy prevails. If the people are 
conscious of their social need, and are ready to act with competent 
leaders, the task will be easy. Organization is not troublesome, en- 
thusiasm is not so hard to generate; but keeping lighted the fires of 
social progress is difficult and worrisome. 

Need of a Social Magnet. 

To do this, the leaders must find a social magnet — a something 
that will center and hold the interest of the people upon the country 
school. This something must be material and form the nucleus for 
the social center institution. 






■ • \ 
' LCI 

vhich 

• ■ | 

v en- 
he great 

Awakening a Neighborhood. 
If t! :>rinK th€ ' til 

ool. 

iibllc Into 

• 

<K)k8. A 

10 oppos- 

■■ 

boo] buIM 

i. If !»• 
Mbr n. 

Federating Organizations. 

Ol build:: lera- 

hool 
will ners' 

natural 

borne ga 

.tify- 
inp i 1 result in ome 

>ads' 

will unit. 

here 

• 

:i. and 

such a manner as to non-members in k the 

union b mpUsh. 

• c, should tx interest- 






of pub! 

public 

uld be mill- I heir 

rein thej contrary to the will 

and Independent, ; 
ii Center 
ody's forum, 
in always be secured for the askii 
of t l in the next town win gladly semi out author 

on farm nterprlslng community, in 

unnuniiy these sprakns will find eager, prilling audit 
intelligent mon and women, who will till the house to the doc 

will follow the speaker with thoughtful diSCUl 
klfl theme, and he Will probably find himself in the witness chair 

befo: end of the evening. Who can doubt that this kind 

community i ition would benefit? 

What Has Been Done. 

Fifteen miles from the railroad in Western Michigan is the little 
town of Hesperia, which first started the patron-teacher club :n 

ment. T mmunlty has rejuvenated itself and for 2 

improving Itself by a form « f social center work. In fact, the 
"Hesperia movement" is. perhaps, the first organized and best known 
effort in rural community uplift. Tin -s of the Hesperia in 

ment warrants our firm belief in social centers for the South v. 
Farmersville, Piano, Celeste. Troupe and ether small towns of T 
trted phases of this work. A number of isolated commui 
hav. >usly begun work on definite lines of advancement; but 

for the Southwest as a whole, we ean only say that these efforts are 
yet too weak to make themselves felt. 

Library Associations. First Hope. 

Knowledge of conditions leads the writer to believe that the 
library idea is the one which will bring most, prompt response from 
the people. This is undoubtedly as great a need as any other. M 
ine- it will arouse the people to appreciation of the value of coop. 'ra- 
tion. Through the efforts of Farm and Ranch the past three months, 
luii communities have adopted the library plan. The Bentiment is 
growing. Especially, does the library plan appeal to the isolated 
munity. It is necessary to agitate for more libraries in the South u 
as a first means of creating social centers. 

The writer wishes again to say, that the social forces at work in 
country life will make the farmer of the future a very different 1 • 
from the farmer of today. He further predicts a spread of the social 
center wave, and its adoption over the whole of this section; perhaps 
not in name, but certainly with the same idea. From that getting 
together of the people will result: 

1. A growing spirit of fraternalism. 

2. A quickened interest in public welfare. 

3. A saner, better-balanced manhood and womanhood, inspired 
by truly democratic ideals. 

4. Ultimate solution of the difficult question of holding farm pop- 
ulation on the farms, by making country life so attractive that its 
possibilities will satisfy the normal instincts of the ambitious man and 
woman. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^ 



16 Social Centers 



inn 



019 605 216 1 



Bibliography 



PARM AND RANCH for 1910. 

Civic Unity for the Southwest (Holman), 12-1; 13-20; 15-2; 
Social Centers in Rural Communities, 21-2; Progress of Movement 
(Holman), 42-16; In the Country, 48-7; Lefevre on, 48-12; Country 
Schoolhouse as a Social Center, 48-20; Practical Social Center Or- 
ganization, 49-13; Smith's Chapel (C. D. Murphy), 51-17; Farmers 
of the Future (Holman), 51-1 > Benefits of Rural Organization 
(Newman), 26-4; Relation of the Rural School to Community 
Progress, 33-11; 36-22; Schools as Social Centers, 14-9; Libraries 
as Social Center Nuclei, 43-8; 49-8;51-9. 

PARM AND RANCH for 1911. 

Farmers of the Future (Holman), 1-2; 3-2 ;4. Troubles of a 
Rural Social Center (Bush), 3-13; Consult later issues for further 
material. 

(Explanation — Reference is made here to number of issue and 
page, as 3-13 would refer to issue number 3, page 13.) 

HOLLAND'S MAGAZINE for 1911. 

Work of Miss Lida Dougherty, March issue, page 11; consult 
later issues in 1911. 

Ward, E. J. 

Rochester's Social Centers and Civic Clubs — Story of the 

First Two Years. 

Common Ground 

Periodical published in 1910 by the Rochester Social Centers. 
Country Life Commission 

Report to President Roosevelt. 
Rural Life Conference, University of Virginia 

Alumni Bulletin, 1910. 
National Municipal League 

Report of Education Extension Committee, 1910. 
Texas Federation of Women's Clubs 

Report of Education Committee, 1910. 

Riggs, J. F. 

Condition and Needs of Iowa Rural Schools (Annual Report 

of Supt. of Instruction, 1905.) 
Hays, W. M. 

Country Life — (Gov't Bulletin). 

Crosby, Dick J. 

Progress in Agricultural Education in 1909. Bulletin of U. S. 

Dept. of Agriculture). 
Butterfield, Kenyon L.- 

"Chapters on Rural Progress." 
Kern, O. J. 

"Among Country Schools." 
Perry, Clarence A. 

"Wider Use of the School Plant." 
Conference on Education in Texas. . 

The Country High School. (Bulletin.) 

Ellis, A. Caswell 

Relation of a Nation's Social Ideals to its Educational Sys- 
tem (Bulletin Univ. of Texas). 

Note — Names of publishers and details, also reference to the rapidly 
accumulating matter on Social Centers may be had by writing the Social 
Center Dept. of FARM AND RANCH, Dallas, Texas. 



